Build a better future: Six women at Accelera share their insights and advice for tomorrow's female engineers

To build a more sustainable and innovative world, we need engineering teams with diverse skills, ideas and perspectives. We're transforming the perception of power by embracing diversity and inclusion within Accelera, allowing us to enhance our ability to innovate.

International Women in Engineering Day is a chance to encourage more women and girls to enter engineering and to celebrate remarkable women who have helped to solve some of the world’s biggest challenges. To mark the 11th annual event on June 23, 2024, we spoke to six female engineers at Accelera™ by Cummins who are carving a path for future generations.

Hayley McMahan | Senior Manufacturing Engineer

What advice would you give to a young woman aspiring to be an engineer?
Don’t be afraid of what you don’t know. It’s okay not to have all the answers or feel unsure. As long as you’re willing to learn and be hands-on, you will be successful. So be confident!

What is your favorite part about being an engineer?
My favorite part about being an engineer, especially in manufacturing, is that I am always challenged. There is always a new problem to solve, and it's fun being able to work with other people and hear different perspectives to find the best solution. I have learned so much from other people with different backgrounds and experiences. It’s really helped broaden my perspective.

What’s one thing you wish more people knew about being a woman in engineering?
It’s very empowering! Being able to promote women in a historically male-dominated field and being supported by others in the industry to do so, is incredibly motivating.

What advice would you give to a young woman aspiring to be an engineer?
A career in engineering is a hugely rewarding journey. Identify what excites you most in the field and let your passion drive your choices. Embrace challenges, courses, certifications, conferences and engineering communities. Commit to lifelong learning, connect with mentors, and join engineering communities for support and guidance. And most of all, stay inspired and believe in your potential to make a difference.

What is your favorite part about being an engineer?
It’s the opportunity to work on innovative and cutting-edge technologies, like developing smart electric vehicle systems. I love the continuous learning and the endless opportunities to grow. No two days are ever the same, but every day you’re helping to build a better future and shape the technology of tomorrow.

What’s one thing you wish more people knew about being a woman in engineering?
I wish more people knew the resilience you build as a female engineer, due to overcoming challenges like gender bias and juggling work with parenting. Women in engineering often advocate for policies and practices that create a more inclusive, supportive environment for all engineers.

What advice would you give to a young woman aspiring to be an engineer?
Practice engineering outside the classroom as early as you can in life. That may be through part-time work in a college research lab, getting involved in engineering clubs or working as an intern. Only by applying this vastly diverse subject outside of class was I able to identify the right career path for me.

What is your favorite part about being an engineer?
I can’t pick just one, so here's two of my favorite zones in engineering. First, I love brainstorming ideas and defining a product that solves a complex problem. The second is seeing an idea on a whiteboard transformed through the product development lifecycle into a solution to a real-world problem.

What’s one thing you wish more people knew about being a woman in engineering?
It’s frustrating when some people view women engineers as a gender-diversity requirement to check off. I wish more people recognized that having women on engineering teams enhances a team’s innovation and problem-solving capabilities by bringing in diverse perspectives and strengths.

What advice would you give to a young woman aspiring to be an engineer?
Always be open to learning something new and be willing to explore other avenues. Question how things are done and set out to improve them.

What is your favorite part about being an engineer?
I appreciate the sheer diversity of the field and the way it requires collaboration between people with different skill sets. It’s easy to find something you like.

What’s one thing you wish more people knew about being a woman in engineering?
Contrary to popular belief, there is no one-size-fits-all mold for women engineers. Each of us brings unique strengths and interests to the table. Our paths are as varied as our personalities, and that’s what makes the field so dynamic.

What advice would you give to a young woman aspiring to be an engineer?
Don’t let anything stop you. Women make incredible engineers.

What is your favorite part about being an engineer?
I love getting to solve a wide variety of different problems every day while making the world a better place.

What’s one thing you wish more people knew about being a woman in engineering?
Women are just as capable as others in STEM fields. Having a diverse group of people solving a complex problem leads to better outcomes.

What advice would you give to a young woman aspiring to be an engineer?
Get involved early! Clubs and programs at school are a great place to start. Organizations like the Society of Women Engineers provide resources to help schools set up clubs, but any STEM-related project or society will bring beneficial experiences and opportunities. Not only can you make new friends who share similar interests and goals, but you can seek out a potential mentor to help guide you through what it takes to be a successful engineer.

What is your favorite part about being an engineer?
It’s really rewarding to be able to solve problems in real time and then see your solutions put into action and have a lasting, positive impact.

What’s one thing you wish more people knew about being a woman in engineering?
One thing I wish people knew more about being a woman in engineering would be how fun it is! There are so many opportunities and areas that we can explore as female engineers. It is truly an exciting field to be in and I hope to continue to see more women in engineering.